Wimbledon heroics count for nothing: Roddick

Andy Roddick said on Saturday he would never forget last year's epic Wimbledon men's final defeat, but insisted his heroics counted for nothing going into this

Written by Agence-France Presse

Read Time: 3 mins

London :
Andy Roddick said on Saturday he would never forget last year's epic Wimbledon men's final defeat, but insisted his heroics counted for nothing going into this year's championships.

The US number one, who lost one of the all-time greatest finals in a knife-edge 16-14 fifth set duel with Roger Federer, said he had to start again from scratch and even admitted feeling nervous about getting through his first round match.

"Last year is last year. Has zero to do with this year, as far as I'm concerned," the world number seven said.

"I don't know how playing well last year affects this year past the point of knowing that you can do it and you can play well.

"I have great memories of last year. Everyone talks about a match, but it takes two weeks of getting to that match of playing pretty good tennis. I played some of my best stuff.

"It's a tournament as a whole that I think I'll always be extremely proud of."

The fifth seed faces compatriot Rajeev Ram in round one.

"You always at this point in the tournament are just worried about getting through the first one. I don't think that ever changes," Roddick said.

"I don't really get too caught up in expectations. I get caught up in how you're going to win three sets on Monday.

"I don't think you get too high or low on form. It's just a matter of surviving, giving yourself a chance to play again, and getting through a draw."

World number seven Roddick has lost to Switzerland's Federer on each of the three occasions when he has reached the Wimbledon final.

Roddick said there were "the normal cast of favourites" this year, and included himself in the line-up.

The American said he was feeling physically fine going into this year's tournament.

"Roger's always a favorite when he comes here. Rafa's in form, he's playing well. Murray will have the home court. You're still going to get the same five or six names when asked," he said.

"I've proven that I know how to kind of navigate my way to the later rounds of this tournament. It's a place I feel comfortable. It's a surface that I feel good on. So as for names on the list... I feel comfortable with where I'm at here."

Roddick also said Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, fresh from beating Federer in the Halle final, could not be discounted.

"I've always put Lleyton in the top echelon of guys on grass. It's not surprising to see Lleyton Hewitt playing well on a grass court," he said.

"I'm sure the tournament in Halle maybe opened some people's eyes. But inside the locker room, I don't know if anyone was super shocked that he's in form on this surface."